DIY paint job. Done right. Hopefully

[Wiglaf]

pull the front and rear windows out, they probably could use new trim anyways. I would also do the door sills, trunk interior, etc. Most have little spots in the windshield corners that need repair.

When I get around to doing mine I'll be renting a sandblaster to clean off the whole bottom of the car then using that rock-proof bedliner shit. I'm contemplating yanking the motor and driveline, going all the way with it. Living in the rust belt has it's ways of making you go overkill with the precautions.

[sonnyqm3]

ok here is the Henna paint code 052 and mix..also use 400 grit sand paper and then prime..
DMD1608 LF ORANGE
DMD1677 RED
DMD648 WEAK BLACK
DMD1684 WHITE
DMD665 YELLOW RF
DBX1689 CLEAR

for the reducer use a I think its DTC 885 which is medium temp reducer or you can go DTC 895 which is a lil slower..

The clear is DC3000 and hardner is DCH 3095 its a 4-1 mix ratio.

Good luck..

[einstein57]

I got my last car done at a cabby place too. They really like doing something different from time to time.

ya gray is fine..

get deltron DBC paint from PPG. Henna paint code is 052, if your going with ppg clear then use either 3000 or for a lil bit more go with 4000.

I will give you the mixing/toner code tomorrow. i will also give you the exact number for the ppg clear and hardner..

[sonnyqm3]

einstein57,

We have contracts with 3000 cabs.. we do their radio dispatch/meter installation and repairs.. we also do all their paints..

our shop is 12,000sq ft with 5 lifts and 2 paint booths.. cab service is not all we do at the shop, we also service local people with their car needs.. I like working on BMW's personally and have great techs who help me out with my builds etc...

[sonnyqm3]

how is coming along with the DIY paint project..

[e304me]

hey, thanks for the paint info, do you have a daytime pic?

I was away friday through monday so i havent gotten too much done. I worked on the f'ed up rocker panel and the fenders are %99 removed. I also picked up a trunk with no spoiler holes.

sanding the paint off


Now it's ready for filler



Application of body filler before sanding


Here is is ready for paint. There is some exposed metal but
the entire surface is level and smooth


I should not have chosen that dent as my first experience with body filler

[george graves]

I'm liking the large pics - I think seening the detail (even if you have to right-chick, view image to see the whole thing) is great.

Ok - so here's a silly question.

So...say a panel like what you just worked on, or just a simple door ding. You've work it with filler and got that smooth to where you like it - it feels good with your hands. Then maybe you hit it with some primer and a glide coat - and you block sand it - maybe that take a couple passes. Now, you *THINK* you've got it smooth - but how do you really know until you shoot it? Can you spray some glossy paint the area to see the reflection and then sand it back down, just to be sure?

[e304me]

The guide coat is most likely going to show way more than you would ever be able to see with your eye once its painted. You could spray paint it and look, but I dont think thats necessary. It is still going to be primed and then block sanded again.

[s_ribs]

The guide coat is most likely going to show way more than you would ever be able to see with your eye once its painted.

That would be a mistake to think that. I'm speaking from experience on that one - if you can see it with the guide coat, you'll see it with paint.

[e304me]

That would be a mistake to think that. I'm speaking from experience on that one - if you can see it with the guide coat, you'll see it with paint.

Well yeah, my point was that if you can't see it with the guidecoat, you will most likely not be able to see it in the paint. When used with a decent sized block Guide coat can show very minor changes in the levelness of the surface that you would probably never see with your eye. I like to guide coat twice just to be safe though

[Adrian_Visser]

Have you read the e30 M3 minor rust repair thread? There is a pretty good DIY in it about prepping a car for paint.

[Wiglaf]

a technique i've read is when you think you're done with an area, spray a thin coat of matte primer on there and get some bright light on it for a good look, maybe block it lightly to make sure it comes off evenly. especially if you're trying to take care of dings/low spots it's obvious when blocking when a spot of paint stays on there.

[sonnyqm3]

primer

I'm liking the large pics - I think seening the detail (even if you have to right-chick, view image to see the whole thing) is great.

Ok - so here's a silly question.

So...say a panel like what you just worked on, or just a simple door ding. You've work it with filler and got that smooth to where you like it - it feels good with your hands. Then maybe you hit it with some primer and a glide coat - and you block sand it - maybe that take a couple passes. Now, you *THINK* you've got it smooth - but how do you really know until you shoot it? Can you spray some glossy paint the area to see the reflection and then sand it back down, just to be sure?

when you primer a car then you sand/block to make sure everything is straight.. We at the shop also do wet sand on the primer to give it that perfect feel and no waves etc etc.. its a process but at the end it comes out real nice.. But prepping is the key to a good paint job..

[e304me]

fuck fuck fuck. I had one of the fenders off to fix some dents on it and i just ended up making it worse, and then slightly better. And then the bondo dried instantly. FFFFFFFUUUUUUU fender!!!

[Kershaw]

Have you read the e30 M3 minor rust repair thread? There is a pretty good DIY in it about prepping a car for paint.